It’s a 3-2 count and the bases are loaded in the final inning of a Saturday afternoon game. Illinois softball held a slim lead over No. 19 Nebraska for six long innings, but by the middle of the seventh, the game was tied. Senior pitcher Pepper Gay held the team’s toughest opponent to just two hits for most of the game, but her outing was plagued by walks and hit batters — bending the Illini defense to its breaking point and allowing the Cornhuskers chance after chance to get back in the game. The screaming of both benches blends into a din of cheers of support and calls for failure. Her eyes narrow as she tries to focus on the catcher’s glove, she grasps the ball inside her glove — all 12 inches within her palm. She winds and fires: ball four, outside. A couple of seconds and exactly 60-feet later, her opponent effortlessly strides across home plate taking the game-winning run back to the bench with her.

The scene has become fairly familiar for the Illinois pitching staff this season. With more walks allowed (162) than any other Big Ten school, the team has had troubles brewing inside the circle. 

Allowing its opponents almost one free runner per inning pitched, the team’s pitching staff has found themselves in countless defensive jams throughout the season. In just 189 innings, the Illini have walked or hit 183 batters.

In a weekend series against No. 19 Nebraska, Gay allowed 10 walks and hit five batters in one game. Gay walked in the winning run in Saturday’s loss during the Illini’s defensive collapse in the game’s final inning. She even hit Nebraska catcher Taylor Edwards on three occasions and walked her once more. Throughout the weekend, Illinois gave up 29 walks and a total of 34 free passes — more than a game and a half’s worth of squandered potential outs.

“I get frustrated with myself, and it causes me to want to overthrow by trying to get more strikes,” Gay said. “I know I can throw better.”

Gay threw a no-hitter against Northern Iowa earlier in the year, allowing no walks or hit batters. It would have been a perfect game if not for one defensive error by shortstop Danielle Trezzo. Aside from the historic start, she has had a rough ride in her farewell season, allowing 87 walks and hitting 15 batters in just 95 innings pitched.

Head coach Terri Sullivan said Gay has the ability to contain any offense in the country when she performs up to par with her skill set. 

“She’s tough as nails, but even as a senior, there’s that opportunity to be better and grow,” Sullivan said.

Shelese Arnold and Jackie Guy have also been battling control issues this season as well. Arnold has allowed 56 walks and hit four batters, while Guy has allowed 21 free bases, throwing 19 walks in just 15.2 innings pitched.

Guy said the Illini pitching staff is capable of shutting teams down and throwing as little as one or two walks per game. 

“Our pitchers are a lot better than we’ve shown,” she said after Sunday’s 7-1 loss. “We have a saying, ‘pitch-by-pitch concentration,’ and every time, you’re just trying to throw your own pitch and trust your defense.”

After the team’s lack of offense early in the season, Illinois now finds itself scrambling on defense following the team’s worst pitching performance of the season against Nebraska. 

“They just got to get back to only focusing on what they need to do in the circle,” Sullivan said. “You just have to be mentally tough.”

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter

@NeumanntheHuman.